Littler warned only one player can stop him dominating darts

FORMER world champion Keith Deller believes Luke Humphries is the only player capable of stopping Luke Littler from dominating darts.

Littler, 19, has already won the World Championship, World Masters, UK Open, Premier League and World Matchplay this year.

The world No1 has now collected 14 major titles since bursting onto the scene in 2024 and is closing in on a clean sweep of the sport’s biggest prizes.

Littler needs just the World Series Finals, World Grand Prix, European Championship, Grand Slam of Darts and Players Championship Finals to achieve something never done before.

The Nuke has also lifted seven consecutive PDC Premier events when including the back end of 2025 and is threatening to overhaul Phil Taylor’s record of nine in a row.

Deller believes Humphries is the biggest obstacle standing in his way.

He told oche180: “I think the problem is there is only one player that can beat him and that is Luke Humphries.

“I think personally because he has beaten him in a couple of finals and Luke has that game that can play the big finals.

“Luke Humphries is just getting back into it now. He wasn’t over confident last week when he won a floor tournament.

“When you win the confidence comes there. That is the only worry for me if Luke Humphries goes out early.

“Does Luke Littler think right that’s it give me the trophy right now. I mean I know he does get most of the trophies.”

Littler’s only defeat in a final this year came against Humphries, who edged a thrilling 8-7 victory at the US Darts Masters.

Eight-time major winner Humphries has beaten Littler in three televised finals, more than any other player, with Michael van Gerwen having done so just once.

Littler also smashed Phil Taylor’s World Matchplay tournament average record earlier this year.

The teen sensation averaged a staggering 111.05 in Blackpool to beat Taylor’s previous mark of 106.32, which had stood since 2010.

Littler’s Matchplay final victory over Gerwyn Price was also his 29th consecutive win in a match lasting more than 20 legs.

Deller compared Littler’s dominance to Taylor’s reign at the top of the sport.

He added: “Back in our day it was a bit like Phil Taylor. Dennis Priestley was the one back in the day that could always play him and Rod Harrington.

“I think the trouble you have got is I did wonder when Gerwyn Price said when he got to the Matchplay final they were all scared of him.

“I think Gerwyn has lost 12 out of 14. The other top players that we know are brilliant, they are just not good enough to beat him.

“Whatever you say it is a worry. It’s great for the game what Luke has done.

“Funny thing I was at the services on the A1.

“Normally it’s football shirts. I saw two lads with Luke Littler shirts on. There were no darts on!

“I thought I have never seen that before. That just shows the impact.

“On the floor best of 11 you can easily get beat. If you are not hitting 100 averages there are loads of players that can beat you.

“It just seems on the TV for these games he is just different gravy.”

Words: Aaron Nijjar

Image: Taylor Lanning